Photo-triggered hydrogen atom transfer from an iridium hydride complex to unactivated olefins

Many photoactive metal complexes can act as electron donors or acceptors upon photoexcitation, but hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reactivity is rare. We discovered that a typical representative of a widely used class of iridium hydride complexes acts as an H-atom donor to unactivated olefins upon irradiation at 470 nm in the presence of tertiary alkyl amines as sacrificial electron and proton sources. The catalytic hydrogenation of simple olefins served as a test ground to establish this new photo-reactivity of iridium hydrides. Substrates that are very difficult to activate by photoinduced electron transfer were readily hydrogenated, and structure–reactivity relationships established with 12 different olefins are in line with typical HAT reactivity, reflecting the relative stabilities of radical intermediates formed by HAT. Radical clock, H/D isotope labeling, and transient absorption experiments provide further mechanistic insight and corroborate the interpretation of the overall reactivity in terms of photo-triggered hydrogen atom transfer (photo-HAT). The catalytically active species is identified as an Ir(ii) hydride with an Ir^II–H bond dissociation free energy around 44 kcal mol⁻¹, which is formed after reductive ³MLCT excited-state quenching of the corresponding Ir(iii) hydride, i.e. the actual HAT step occurs on the ground-state potential energy surface. The photo-HAT reactivity presented here represents a conceptually novel approach to photocatalysis with metal complexes, which is fundamentally different from the many prior studies relying on photoinduced electron transfer.

Upon irradiation with visible light, an iridium hydride complex undergoes hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) to unactivated olefins in presence of a sacrificial electron donor and a proton source.     

Assignment of E/Z isomers in Schiff bases of 3-acyltetramic acids with ethylenediamine by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy

The reaction of ethylenediamine with an equivalent mixture of diversely substituted 3-acyltetramic acids leads to Z/Z, Z/E, E/Z and E/E isomers. The E/Z isomerisation is slow in the NMR time scale of the ¹H and ¹³C chemical shifts; therefore at room temperature and in deuterochloroform all isomers of the new synthesized asymmetric compounds N,N′-ethylene-(1-ethyl-5,5-dimethyl-1′,5′,5′-trimethyl-3,3′-acetyltetramic acid) a, N,N′-ethylene-(5,5-dimethyl-1′,5′,5′-trimethyl-3,3′-acetyltetramic acid) b and, N,N′-ethylene-(1,5,5-trimethyl-1′,5′,5′-trimethyl-3-acetyl-3′-formyl-tetramic acid) c could be found in the corresponding spectra. To assign the ¹³C NMR signals we used two-dimensional ¹³C-¹H one-bond (HMQC) and ¹³C-¹H multibond (HMBC) correlated spectroscopy and the empirical rule that CO signals involved in hydrogen bonds are shifted to a lower field. The relative stability of isomers depending on substitution pattern could be estimated from the composition of the equilibria. b crystallizes as Z/Z isomer from ethanolic solution. The X-ray structural analysis of b has shown two CH-O hydrogen bonds. Received: 31 May 1996 / Revised: 26 June 1996 / Accepted: 1 July 1996     

Multiple rate-determining steps for nonideal and fractal kinetics

We show that the kinetic model of a single rate-determining step in a reaction mechanism can be extended to systems with multiple overall reactions for which the elementary reactions obey nonideal or fractal kinetics. The following assumptions are necessary: (1) The system studied is either closed or open, but no constraints exist preventing the evolution toward equilibrium. (2) Elementary reactions occur in pairs of forward and backward steps. (3) The kinetics of the elementary steps are either nonideal or fractal and are compatible with equilibrium thermodynamics. (4) The number of reaction routes is identical with the number of rate-determining steps. If these hypotheses are valid, then the overall reaction rates can be explicitly evaluated: they have a form similar to the kinetic equations for the elementary reactions and the apparent reaction orders and fractal coefficients can be expressed analytically in terms of the kinetic parameters of the elementary reactions. We derive a set of relationships which connect the equilibrium constants of the reaction routes, the corresponding overall rate coefficients, and the stoichiometric numbers of the rate-determining steps. We also derive a set of generalized Boreskov relations among the apparent activation energies of the forward and backward overall processes, the corresponding reaction enthalpies, and the stoichiometric coefficients of the rate-determining steps. If the elementary reactions obey fractal kinetics, the same is true for the rate-determining steps. The fractal exponents of the forward and backward overall reactions are linear combinations of the fractal exponents of the fractal elementary reactions. Similar to the theory of single rate-determining steps, our approach can be used for selecting suitable reaction mechanisms from experimental data.     

Use of U-shaped donor-bridge-acceptor molecules to study electron tunneling through nonbonded contacts

A systematic determination of electronic coupling matrix elements in U-shaped molecules is demonstrated. The unique architecture of these systems allows for the determination of the electronic coupling through a pendant molecular moiety that resides between the donor and acceptor groups; this moiety quantifies the efficiency of electron tunneling through nonbonded contacts. Experimental electron-transfer rate constants and reaction free energies are used to calibrate a molecular-based model that describes the solvation energy. This approach makes it possible to experimentally determine electronic couplings and compare them with computational values.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structures of Two Novel Anionic Aluminophosphates: A One-Dimensional Chain, UT-7 ([Al(3)P(5)O(20)H](5-)[C(7)H(13)NH(3)(+)](5)), and a Layer Containing Two Cyclic Amines, UT-8 ([Al(3)P(4)O(16)](3-)[C(4)H(7)NH(3)(+)](2)[C(5)H(10)NH(2)(+)])

UT-7 and UT-8 (University of Toronto, structure numbers 7 and 8) are two novel aluminophosphate materials prepared under non-aqueous conditions. Their structures, extended in one and two dimensions, respectively, have been solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and characterized by a variety of methods including powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), insitu high-temperature PXRD, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). UT-7 ([Al(3)P(5)O(20)H](5)(-)[C(7)H(13)NH(3)(+)](5), triclinic space group P&onemacr;, Z = 2, a = 10.118(3) ?, b = 15.691(4) ?, c = 18.117(3) ?, alpha = 72.91(2) degrees, beta = 85.18(2) degrees, gamma = 79.49(2) degrees ) is built of polymeric one-dimensional chain units, hydrogen-bonded into anionic layers that are charge-compensated by interlamellar cycloheptylammonium cations. UT-7 is isostructural to our previously discovered UT-3 chain structure, isolated in the analogous cyclopentylamine system. UT-8 ([Al(3)P(4)O(16)](3-)[C(4)H(7)NH(3)(+)](2)[C(5)H(10)NH(2)(+)], monoclinic space group P2(1), Z = 2, a = 8.993(4) ?, b = 14.884(8) ?, c = 9.799(9) ?, beta = 103.52(3) degrees ) is a two-dimensional net isostructural to several previously reported [Al(3)P(4)O(16)](3)(-) layers. The interlayer region of UT-8 is occupied by two different cyclic organic amine species, namely piperidinium and cyclobutylammonium. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the crystal structure of an aluminophosphate material containing cyclobutylammonium or a mixture of cyclic amines. Interestingly, UT-7 is observed to thermally transform in the solid state to an as yet unknown layered material that can be independently synthesized in a similar synthetic system. In the same way as UT-3 transforms to the UT-4 layered phase, we believe UT-7 transforms to a layered material by means of a chain to layer transformation.     

Crystallochemistry of some new niobium bromides with (Nb6Br18) units: Structures of CsErNb6Br18 and Cs2EuNb6Br18

Two new series of Nb₆ bromides, CsRENb₆Br₁₈ (RE = all the lanthanides excepted Eu and Yb, + Y) (type H ) and M₂RENb₆Br₁₈ (M = Cs, Rb, Tl; RE = Eu, Yb) (type R ) have been isolated. The crystal structures of CsErNb₆Br₁₈ and Cs₂EuNb₆Br₁₈, isotypic with the corresponding chlorides, have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction data. The (Nb₆Br₁₈) intra-unit strength is related to the nature and the charge of the counter cation. A comparison between the corresponding chlorides and bromides series, based on the chemical properties and the size of the halogen is discussed.     

Microwave-assisted ring-closing metathesis revisited. On the question of the nonthermal microwave effect

The ring-closing metathesis reactions (RCM) of six standard diene substrates leading to five-, six-, or seven-membered carbo- or heterocycles were investigated under controlled microwave irradiation. RCM protocols were performed with standard Grubbs type II and a cationic ruthenium allenylidene catalyst in neat and ionic liquid-doped methylene chloride under sealed vessel conditions. Very rapid conversions (15 s) were achieved utilizing 0.5 mol % Grubbs II catalyst under microwave conditions. Careful comparison studies indicate that the observed rate enhancements are not the result of a nonthermal microwave effect.     

UVB irradiation of normal human skin favors the development of type-2 T-cells in vivo and in primary dermal cell cultures

To determine the effect of UVB exposure on the balance of type-1 or type-2 T-cells in skin, we examined the expression of key markers interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-4 in cryostat sections. IFN-gamma mRNA was clearly detectable in nonirradiated control skin, and IFN-gamma protein was found in 2% of the dermal CD3pos T-cells, whereas IL-4 mRNA was hardly detectable, and no IL-4 protein was found. In contrast, IL-4 mRNA expression increased upon irradiation, and IL-4 was found in 2% of the T-cells at day 2 after UVB-exposure. Concomitantly, IFN-gamma mRNA expression decreased, and IFN-gamma protein became absent. We also analyzed T-cells present in primary dermal cell cultures, which were used as an in vitro equivalent of the in vivo situation. As compared with T-cells from control skin, T-cells in dermal cell cultures from UVB-exposed skin displayed an increased IL-4 and decreased IFN-gamma expression. No such skewing occurred when the T-cells from irradiated skin were cloned in the absence of a dermal microenvironment. Except for an occasional positive T-cell, type-1-associated cell-surface markers (CCR5, CXCR3) or type-2 markers (CCR3, CD30, CRTH2) were undetectable in situ. But these markers were expressed on cultured dermal T-cells from UVB-exposed and control skin at a comparable level, but did not correlate with the IFN-gamma and IL-4 production. Altogether, UVB-induced changes of the dermal microenvironment favor the development of type-2 T-cells.